Collin Murray-Boyles tallied nine points (3-of-6 FGs, 3-of-5 FTs), six rebounds, three assists and two blocks over 16 minutes in Saturday’s preseason game against the Clippers.
Murray-Boyles, who scored all nine of his points in 10 minutes off the bench in the opening half, is an X-factor in Toronto’s short and long-term outlook. He averaged just 8.5 points per game as a rookie last season, but his raw talent as an interior defender gives him the potential to form a formidable defensive trio alongside Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes. The next step in his development will be proving he can handle the responsibilities of a small-ball center, potentially giving Toronto a viable alternative to Jakob Poeltl in the closing minutes of tight games. He’s a borderline top-100 pick in fantasy drafts this fall.